Area report
Is Telford and Wrekin a good place to live?
Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands, England
Report completeness: 85%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Telford and Wrekin scores 72 out of 100 overall, putting it in the top 16 per cent of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is affordability, scoring 82 against the English median of 64; its biggest shortfall is lifestyle, 38 against 56.
- Nearest scored area: Telford, about 3 miles away, scoring 70.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 85 per cent: categories without data are excluded rather than estimated.
How detailed is this report?
Open data is published at different levels of detail, and this report always uses the most granular level available rather than pretending otherwise.
- Point-level for this exact location: Weather (from the Met Office Shawbury station, 15 km away); Lifestyle (amenities within about 2 km of this exact point); Transport (stops within 800 m and the nearest railway station); Air quality (the 1 km grid cell containing this point).
- Council-level, covering all of Telford and Wrekin: Cost of living, Affordability, Housing, Employment, Broadband, Education. Every postcode and town in the council shares these figures.
Research this area further with trusted open data: police.uk street-level crime map, HM Land Registry sold prices, ONS local area profiles, Ofcom broadband checker. This report is open-source intelligence: everything is built from published government and public datasets you can check yourself.
Affordability
Source: HM Land RegistryWith a ten per cent deposit, the average Telford and Wrekin home needs borrowing of 5 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, beyond the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so it takes a second income or a larger deposit. Try your own figures below.
Guidance only, using standard lending multiples and typical outgoings. Not a mortgage offer or financial advice. TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; always seek independent professional advice before financial decisions.
Housing
Source: HM Land RegistryUK House Price Index for Telford and Wrekin, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukCrime data could not be loaded for this location.
Weather and outdoors
Source: Met OfficeOutdoor suitability
Telford and Wrekin averages about 1,354 sunshine hours a year, around the middle of the UK range, with typical rainfall for the UK (about 753 mm a year). Summer days typically reach around 21.1°C and winter nights fall to about 2.1°C.
Averages over 6 years (2020-2025) from the Met Office Shawbury station, 15 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for Telford and Wrekin: the share of premises that can get each service, not the share that has taken it up.
Schools and education
Source: DfE and devolved governmentsLocal authority average, key stage 4, state-funded schools. Source: Department for Education. Each nation publishes its own measure, so this compares within England only. How education is scored.
Healthcare
Source: OpenStreetMapHealthcare data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from OpenStreetMap, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISONS Annual Population Survey for Telford and Wrekin, via NOMIS. Most UK councils fall between about 62% and 82% employment.
Environment
Source: Defra UK-AIRDefra modelled background air for the 1 km grid cell around this point (Crown copyright), scored against the WHO 2021 guidelines.
Transport
Source: DfT NaPTANDfT NaPTAN stops around this exact point. Twelve or more stops within 800 m, and a station within 1 km, each earn full marks.
Cost of living
Source: ONSAverage private rent, from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. Rent stands in for cost of living because it is the largest living cost and the one that varies most between places.
Lifestyle and amenities
Source: OpenStreetMapWhat is nearby
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Food and drink | 14 |
| Shops | 17 |
| Health services | 14 |
| Schools and learning | 13 |
| Parks and sport | 75 |
| Culture and community | 2 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who Telford and Wrekin suits
Of the 3 profiles we score, Telford and Wrekin suits remote workers best, at 75 out of 100.
Telford and Wrekin is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 3% of the 539 areas we have scored for retirees, and the top 33% for students. That gap comes from the same twelve categories weighted differently, which is why one overall score can never answer the question on its own.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retirees | 76 | top 3% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Families | 69 | top 11% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Remote workers | 75 | top 14% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Young professionals | 70 | top 23% | Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. |
| Students | 71 | top 33% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Affordability
- Housing
- Broadband
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 2 are still to load for this area.
How Telford and Wrekin compares
| Category | Telford and Wrekin | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 79 | 71 | 72 | +8 | top 38% |
| Affordability | 82 | 64 | 68 | +18 | top 31% |
| Weather | 65 | 72 | 72 | -7 | bottom 26% |
| Employment | 61 | 61 | 59 | 0 | top 45% |
| Housing | 85 | 83 | 83 | +2 | top 44% |
| Transport | 62 | 75 | 75 | -13 | bottom 12% |
| Broadband | 91 | 88 | 88 | +3 | top 41% |
| Environment | 93 | 89 | 91 | +4 | top 40% |
| Education | 29 | 39 | 40 | -10 | bottom 13% |
| Lifestyle | 38 | 56 | 54 | -18 | bottom 12% |
Medians and positions are across the 539 areas in our index. Safety and education are measured differently in each nation, so read those two rows against the England median only.
What Telford and Wrekin does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are affordability (82, 18 above the median) and cost of living (79, 8 above the median).
Where it falls short. Lifestyle (38, 18 below), transport (62, 13 below) and education (29, 10 below).
Near Telford and Wrekin, and places like it
Telford and Wrekin scores higher than every one of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of it, at 72 out of 100.
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telford | 3.2 miles | Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands, England | 70 | Very good |
| Shrewsbury | 11 miles | Shropshire, West Midlands, England | 69 | Good |
| Bridgnorth | 13 miles | Shropshire, West Midlands, England | 66 | Good |
| Market Drayton | 13 miles | Shropshire, West Midlands, England | 64 | Good |
| Stafford | 17 miles | Stafford, West Midlands, England | 69 | Good |
| Wolverhampton | 17 miles | Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England | 66 | Good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mold | Flintshire, Wales | 71 | 3.3 |
| Rawtenstall | Rossendale, North West, England | 72 | 3.8 |
| Stone | Stafford, West Midlands, England | 69 | 4.4 |
| Goole | East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber, England | 73 | 4.6 |
| Colwyn Bay | Conwy, Wales | 70 | 4.9 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in Telford and Wrekin actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Telford and Wrekin is £220,519, 18 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £22,052, repaying the rest costs about £1,279 a month, £420 more than renting at the local average of £859, and needs a household income of about £44,100 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £220,519 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +1.3%, rising |
| Against our index median | 18% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £22,052 |
| 15% deposit | £33,078 |
| Price to earnings | 5.6 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,279 on a £198,467 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £420 more than the £859 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £44,100 a year at 4.5 times income |
Council-wide average across all property types; the multiple uses UK median full-time earnings (April 2025 (ONS ASHE)). Illustrative arithmetic, not a mortgage assessment or financial advice; TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Air quality in Telford and Wrekin, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 6.2, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 but above the World Health Organization guideline of 5, as in most of Britain. Nitrogen dioxide, at 8.0, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Telford and Wrekin | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 6.2 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 8.0 | 40 | 10 | Inside both |
Neighbourhood background levels from the Defra 1 km model; readings beside a busy road are higher. UK figures are the legal limit (NO₂) and 2040 target (PM2.5); WHO figures are health guidelines, not law.
Questions about Telford and Wrekin
Is Telford and Wrekin a good place to live?
Telford and Wrekin has an overall liveability score of 72 out of 100 (very good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 85% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on broadband and housing. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Telford and Wrekin?
Recorded crime for Telford and Wrekin is shown in the crime and safety section, from police.uk for England and Wales or Scottish Government statistics for Scotland.
What is the weather like in Telford and Wrekin?
Telford and Wrekin averages 1,354 sunshine hours and about 753 mm of rain a year, giving an outdoor score of 65 out of 100. Summer highs average 21.1°C and winter lows 2.1°C. Based on the Met Office Shawbury station, 15 km away.
How expensive is it to live in Telford and Wrekin?
Average private rent in the Telford and Wrekin area is about £859 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Telford and Wrekin a cost-of-living score of 79 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Telford and Wrekin?
The average property price in Telford and Wrekin is about £220,519 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +1.3% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Can I afford to buy a house in Telford and Wrekin?
The average property in Telford and Wrekin costs about £220,519, which is 5.6 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 82 out of 100. Mainstream lenders usually cap borrowing at around four to four and a half times income, so a ratio above that generally means a larger deposit, a second income or a cheaper property than the local average. With a ten per cent deposit, repaying the rest costs about £1,279 a month at 6% over 25 years, £420 more than the £859 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Telford and Wrekin?
About 99% of premises in Telford and Wrekin can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 88.2% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 91 out of 100 (Ofcom Connected Nations). These are council-area availability figures - the share of premises able to order each service, not the speed any single line achieves - so check the exact address with the Ofcom broadband checker before committing to it.
What is the job market like in Telford and Wrekin?
77.7% of 16 to 64 year olds in Telford and Wrekin are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 61 out of 100. UK local authorities typically range from about 62% to 82%. This is a whole-authority figure, so it describes the local labour market rather than any one town within it.
Are the schools good in Telford and Wrekin?
Telford and Wrekin records 44.1 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 29 out of 100. Each nation publishes its own attainment measure and they are not interchangeable, so education scores compare within England, Scotland or Wales and not across them. Attainment is published for the whole council or county rather than for a school catchment, so check individual schools with the inspectorate before deciding.
What is the air quality like in Telford and Wrekin?
For the 1 km grid square containing Telford and Wrekin, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 6.23 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 8.03 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 93 out of 100; an area meeting both guideline levels scores 100. These are modelled background concentrations for the square, not a reading taken at the roadside.
What is there to do in Telford and Wrekin?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 135 mapped amenities, including 14 places to eat and drink, 17 shops, 75 parks and sports facilities and 2 cultural and community venues, giving a lifestyle score of 38 out of 100. Counts come from OpenStreetMap and are measured at this exact location rather than averaged across the council, so they reflect how well served this particular spot is. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Does Telford and Wrekin have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Shropshire Rail Station, about 2.2 km away, and there are 21 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 62 out of 100. Stops come from the DfT NaPTAN dataset and are counted for this exact point, so the figure measures access rather than how frequently anything runs.
Which council area is Telford and Wrekin in?
Telford and Wrekin is in the Telford and Wrekin local authority, West Midlands, England. It falls within the Hadley & Leegomery ward and the The Wrekin parliamentary constituency. Cost of living, housing, affordability, employment, broadband and education figures in this report are published at local-authority level, so every postcode and town inside Telford and Wrekin shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is Telford and Wrekin a good place for remote workers?
Telford and Wrekin scores 75 out of 100 on our remote workers profile, which is weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. That is 3 points above its general score of 72, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-remote-workers/.
Is Telford and Wrekin a good place for students?
Telford and Wrekin scores 71 out of 100 on our students profile, which is weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. That is close to its general score of 72, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-students/.
How does Telford and Wrekin compare with the rest of England?
Telford and Wrekin sits in the top 16% of the 539 UK areas we have scored. The median area in the index scores 67 out of 100. It is furthest above the benchmark for its nation on affordability and cost of living. It is furthest below on lifestyle, transport and education. Categories are compared against the area's own nation where the samples allow it, because crime and school attainment are measured differently either side of the border.
What are the best places to live near Telford and Wrekin?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Telford and Wrekin, the highest are Telford (70 out of 100, about 3 miles away), Shrewsbury (69 out of 100, about 11 miles away) and Stafford (69 out of 100, about 17 miles away). Telford and Wrekin itself scores 72. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Telford and Wrekin?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Mold (Flintshire, Wales), Rawtenstall (Rossendale, North West, England) and Stone (Stafford, West Midlands, England). Similarity is the average gap across every category both areas have data for, with immediate neighbours excluded, so these are places that score alike rather than places that look alike or sit nearby.
What area does this report cover?
Weather, crime, local amenities, healthcare access, transport access and air quality are measured for this exact point. Cost of living, affordability, housing, employment and broadband come from official statistics for the Telford and Wrekin council area, so nearby postcodes and towns in the same council share those figures. Education comes from the local authority, or from the county where attainment is only published at county level. The "How detailed is this report" section explains each level.